Spring is finally here, and it feels pretty good, doesn’t it?
This spring was a little bit different because we also had the pleasure of experiencing a solar eclipse in North America. This rare event brought a little extra energy to the beginning of the season and has seemed to renew the spirits of many.
But of course, the arrival of spring is also traditionally associated with spring cleaning, and at least for me, I’ve felt the need to clean more this year than perhaps ever before.
Many of us in the industry often find ourselves juggling quite a bit, and the opportunities to organize and deep clean in all aspects of our lives can often be few and far between the busier we get, and as other tasks begin to take priority. However, since spring so appropriately lends itself to starting anew, let’s all take the opportunity together now to put our affairs in order before the chaos of mid-year really starts to hit.
Below are some of my favorite tips for regrouping and refreshing the mind and the space around us, especially during this time of year.
Take the time to refocus on your goals. Or set new ones.
Now is about the time that those New Year’s Resolutions have been long forgotten, or at least, they’ve become harder to stick with, but if you’ve lost sight of the goals you set earlier this year and are feeling a bit lost and unfocused (which is totally understandable as we undergo this seasonal reset) you can easily get back on track.
All you have to do is start again. Write out your goals, but maybe instead of beginning with a huge one that seems impossible (like finally starting your business, for example), begin with smaller ones that you can accomplish today, which can even include something as small as emptying the dishwasher or making dinner at home instead of ordering takeout, or posting something on Instagram.
Then decide on two to three goals that you’d like to accomplish tomorrow. And then a few more for the next week.
After that, jot down what you’d like to accomplish in the next month, which for you may mean booking a show or attending a networking event.
Sometimes planning for the near future, instead of allowing our minds to jump too far ahead, can be just what we need to course correct. Plus, as you set and accomplish goals now, it’ll give you that much more momentum to keep working toward those bigger goals down the line.
Update your social media accounts.
When we get insanely busy and start to get thrown out of our usual routines, more often than not, it’s our social media posting is the first casualty of the chaos, because although it’s a necessary task, especially if you’re an artist or business owner, it’s not something that in the grand scheme of things is typically considered “critical” when compared to other tasks, like filing your taxes, for example. It’s very easy to put posting to IG on the back burner when we have family in town, or when we get busy with client work, or when we get sick.
What better time to get back to it than now, though? Spring leaves us feeling refreshed in so many ways, so why not bring that energy to your social media accounts? Show your followers how excited you are about everything you’ve been working on and bring them along for the ride!
If you’ve realized you haven’t posted to your grid since the beginning of December, just post something! Don’t overthink it.
Now is also the perfect time to put together a content schedule for the next week, or even the next month if you’re feeling ambitious.
Clean off your desk!
I don’t know about you, but my work desk sometimes gets super cluttered super fast and I can quickly find myself buried under piles of bills to pay and reminders scribbled on Post-It notes and legal pads (yes, I still take notes the old school way, don’t hate). When that happens, my mind starts to feel just as cluttered, and to be honest, it doesn’t do anything for my productivity.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar situation, you might have felt the same way, and if that’s you right now, keep on with the spring cleaning and clean off that desk! Take half an hour (or even 10 minutes!) to throw out the dried out pens, file away important papers, and throw out the junk mail. If you’re someone who eats at their desk while they work (I am super guilty of this one), put those dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Put every random object that has found its way into your work space back where it belongs.
Clearing all that clutter around you will help clear your mind, making room for new thoughts and ideas to come in. So get to it!
While you’re at it, clean up your computer!
When you think about it, your computer desktop is just an extension of your physical desk but in digital form. I know that I’m not the only one who lets documents and folders clog up the desktop of my computer screen as well, and I can’t stand the visual clutter when it starts getting out of control, which happens fast if you don’t stay on top of it.
Delete all the screenshots you don’t need anymore. Organize what you can into folders, and hide away anything you don’t need immediate access too. If you’re anything like me, once you do, you’ll be breathing a huge sigh of relief!
Spring is such an optimistic time of year, and there’s no better feeling than when you’ve taken the time to refocus and reset. Take advantage of this time to do yourself a favor that will only benefit you going forward (spring cleaning can be a form of self-care, after all). You’ll thank yourself later!
